Chapter 10
Gabriel was woken by his mobile ringing. ‘Hello?’ he said, checking his watch to see if he’d overslept, and noticing that it was just after seven in the morning.
‘Gabriel? It’s Fanshawe, your father’s lawyer. Sorry if I’ve woken you but I’m on an early flight to London and don’t have much time. I wanted to ask you if you got married in Jersey.’
‘No, South Africa,’ Gabe answered, pushing himself to a sitting position and rubbing his eyes with the back of his free hand. ‘Why?’
‘You might be able to arrange for a divorce or annulment in South Africa if that’s where you were married.’ There was a mumble and clatter in the background. ‘Sorry, I have to go now but wanted you to know that this might be one way to sort things out.’
Gabe couldn’t believe it. ‘Thank you, that’s great news.’
‘I’m not promising anything, mind.’
‘No, of course.’ He took a breath to say more but realised that the call had been ended. Delighted with this unexpected news Gabe dropped his phone onto his duvet and got out of bed. He needed to speak to Bella as soon as possible, but first he wanted a shower to work out exactly how he was going to persuade her to do this for him.
Freshly showered and dressed he phoned Bella and asked her to meet him for breakfast at St Ouen’s Bay.
‘So,’ she said, sipping at her latte. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure? I can only imagine you’d bring me out to this beautiful bay and buy me breakfast if it was to break bad news to me about the project.’
‘That’s partly it, yes,’ he admitted, going on to explain that the funding had been rescinded.
‘Damn, that’s lousy. Our findings were so positive, too. I suppose that means we’ll have to watch while another company completes our work, then?’
‘I haven’t been told of anyone else taking over, just that with cuts that we won’t be getting any further funding.’
‘I thought we’d be fine since we’d discovered that new species of sea anemone,’ she said, looking downcast.
‘Me too.’ He took a bite of his bacon roll and they ate in silence for a few minutes, both looking out at the rolling waves on the wide beach. ‘I’m going out soon to close everything down. I’ll take a few more samples of the algae and sea grasses in the area so we can test them, but other than that I’ll just have to ensure our records are fully up to date and the lab reports on the new species we believe we’ve found are recorded.’
‘Such a disappointment though,’ she said. Looking up at him she narrowed her eyes. ‘There’s more though, isn’t there? Why would you bring me here to tell me this when I’d already told you months ago that I’m taking a sabbatical from work?’
He explained about Daisy’s reluctance to be involved with him romantically if he was still married.
‘But that’s ridiculous,’ she said. ‘We’re not together any more.’
‘She has her reasons,’ he said, going on to explain about the phone call that morning from advocate Fanshawe. He waited while she absorbed what he’d just said.
‘Bloody hell, Gabe, I won’t do it. Just because your new girlfriend doesn’t like our situation doesn’t mean I have to traipse all the way to South Africa to get an annulment.’ She shook her head. ‘Especially when you don’t even know that they’ll grant us one.’
‘I know, and I understand you being angry with me for even suggesting this to you.’
She stared at him for a few moments. ‘Have you told her what you’re planning?’ He shook his head.
‘No. I don’t want to say anything until I’m sure it’ll work out.’ He was beginning to wonder why he’d thought this would be a good idea.
‘Oh, fine. I’ll do it for you. I’ll come over and help you wrap everything up with the project and help you try and sort out this divorce. But if she gets upset about us travelling out there together then that’s your problem, not mine.’
It was at times like this that he remembered why he’d always been so fond of Bella. She was strong and determined but you never knew what decision she’d make. ‘Thanks, Bella. I owe you one.’
‘No, you don’t,’ she said, her voice sombre. ‘You’ve never let me down and it doesn’t matter who you or I are with, you’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Anyway, I was there at the beginning of the project and it’s only right that I should be there at the end.’
He sighed. ‘Thank you.’
She giggled. ‘Don’t thank me yet; you’ve still got to break this news to your girlfriend, or whatever she is.’